Conservative Principles Now

Leaders of a once fractured minority party - over the last years seemingly constantly at the verge of splitting farther apart - see unity in Gov.-elect Chris Christie. During the campaign, Christie regularly invoked the example of former Gov. Tom Kean, a moderate, then publicly embraced movement conservative Steve Lonegan in the closing days of the general election campaign to solidify his Republican base. Kean's son, state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) said he believes Christie's leadership abilities are expansive enough to include both the conservative wing and moderate wing of the GOP, in addition to independents and Democrats. Not unlike his own father's skills in that regard.

Tags: Christie, Conservative Wing, Elect, Election Campaign, General Election, Gop, Gop Leaders, Gov Tom, Independents, Leader Tom, Leadership Abilities, Minority Party, New Jersey Politics, Republican Base, Senate Minority Leader, State Senate, Steve Lonegan, Tom Kean Jr, Unity, Verge, Westfield